Oh summer, where art thou?

It seemed just days ago that I was complaining that my summer was grey....that I was attending a romantic wedding in Coronado...that my dad visited from afar in Maui....that I was attending an amazing farm dinner....I also went to Tahoe for over a week, attended two other weddings, spent two weekends in San Francisco, spent a weekend in Anaheim and Long Beach and most importantly.....left my job AND....started my own new company!!!!...what a whirlwind!!!! Well, now it's October! I can't believe it. As you can see, I haven't had much time for blogging. I have barely had time to sleep!!!!

Although my summer has been jam packed with travel, friends, family, and the usual yoga, cooking, spending time with my loves....clearly the most ground breaking and life changing was the job situation. As I read back over my posts since January, I can clearly see that I was miserable at my old job. It's so hard to see, or perhaps, to admit, when you are in a relationship with work or a person that is damaging to your soul. I have, unfortunately, been in the former and the latter and while these are painful memories you would like to forget, this is where the learning comes in...the good stuff really starts to happen. My most recent job was a HUGE risk and while I thought the pros outweighed the cons, things didn't work out in the end. I did however, learn some valuable skills and got a large bump in my professional confidence:

I learned that I can manage my own time, am very resourceful, am more respected and well known in my industry that I previously realized...and I learned that I could start and own my own company. I was really propelled to do this with the help and support of Aaron and of my family, but deep down, it's the work and effort I have put in over my recruiting career that has led me to this fantastic decision. Things are going REALLY well, I am just struggling with managing my time (there is SO much to do) and am working quite a bit. But all in all, I have made a wise decision and am sleeping better, feeling better, and all in all just BETTER for it.

While the weather in San Diego was grey non stop, my cloudy head has cleared and this fall is looking as bright as ever.

Believe in yourself, know yourself, and do what makes you happy. Life is way too short to be miserable...at work, in love, and in general. Also, taking chances are risky, but chances can lead to change, and change is what keeps us moving forward.

Grey Summer....

Every year weather in San Diego is the same...January starts out with some sunshine, February and March are rainy and a bit chilly, April teases us with more sunshine, May is gray,  June is full of gloom, and typically July hits and it is sunshiny!!!! Well this year...not so much. It is July 28th and the sun is no where to be found. It appears our June Gloom has turned into July gloom...and with the summer I am having, it looks like the rest of the summer might continue to be gloomy! Well, sort of....

This is what it looks and feels like in San Diego right now:

This is what I imagine summer is like on the East Coast...except there I think it is more whimsical. I picture the beaches with the little broken down white picket fences, beach grass, and the hopes of a lobster boil to warm up the chilly beach evenings. Kind of like Barefoot Contessa.

Not only is the weather rough in San Diego right now, but my life is in a bit of turmoil as well. I have worked in staffing in San Diego since 2002. I have always been very good at it, receiving promotions, bonuses, pay increases and praise to prove it. I have never "failed" at staffing before. I have only excelled. Well, I took a huge leap of faith by joining a start up organization with huge upside potential, but some downside as well. Well after 10 months, things have not worked out. As of Monday, I was laid off. I realize I did not do anything wrong, but this is certainly not how I expected things to pan out. There was no way anyone could have known the economy would fall to pieces the way it has, I certainly could not have known. In any case, I feel somewhat defeated, extremely stressed, sick to my stomach, and very uneasy. At the same time, I am very proud of myself. I took a risk and that is more than I can say for a lot of people I know. Looking back, I would do it again. I learned a ton about myself, business, and others. I grew professionally and personally and I know that I will look back on this time and be grateful that I had the opportunity to go through this. Right now, it's scary.... I am not going to lie. I have a mortgage and a car payment and other bills. But, I know that new things are around the corner...bigger and better and wonderful things. I am thrilled to be embarking on the next step of my professional journey. I can't tell you all what I am up to next, but whatever it is will be fabulous! 

So San Diego gloom and gray...TAKE THAT!